Story one is more than 33 years in the making. MR. W, beloved high school choir teacher is retiring from teaching and directing the show choir this year. DD2 is disappointed that she will not directly get to perform under his direction, though had a little experience on her choir trip. It doesn't matter, because generations to come, with the caliber of a choir program he has built up. will experience his legacy. Sunday was a huge community wide celebration of his career. His son, who actually will be taking the position, worked with a secret team of alumni to pull together an alumni choir and took donations to commission a piece of music in his honor. There was a reception following-I was on that detail. It was quite the program with long time friends, family, and former students, one now a Super Bowl ring wearing former NFL football player, now professional singer, who talked about wearing a football helmet one afternoon and changing into a pink sequined top for show choir in the evening.Mr.W's work transcended stereotypes-broke them down in fact.
He started the year after I graduated, but I was never in high school choir. I would have liked to been, but had a discouraging experience with singing as early as 6th grade when a teacher flat out told me, "you should not be singing." Years later, when I was just messing around with friends, singing along to pop songs, my friend stopped the music, and said, "why were you never in choir? You can really sing." The theme over and over at the celebration was that Mr. W lead a program where there was a place for any child that wanted to sing. He expected work and respect, but there was a place. Former students talked about how they found their voice, figuratively and literally in his classes.
Move the calendar two days later to Tuesday night and DD2's orchestra concert. The program is always good, with getting to see the progression of the sweet little 5th graders to the ending awards for high schoolers and recognition of graduating seniors. The highlight of the evening was the piece of music written and directed by 18 year old highs school senior J. Remember this name as he is going to be a famous composer some day!. He plans to study music at college and his goal is to be? You may have guessed it, a choir teacher and show choir director. His mother captured his piece and shared on YouTube. There's a few little glimpses of DD2 in her signature butterfly scarf she wears at all her orchestra concerts. Enjoy!
I may have regrets about not fully embracing all my interests and finding out where my true talents lie, but the good thing, the important thing, is each day I have a new opportunity to do so. Thank you kind blog readers for being part of my little dream chasing.
